Manuscript Illumination with Joseph Sold by His Brothers in an Initial V, from an Antiphonary
Giovanni Pietro da Cemmo
ca. 1490 · Tempera, ink and gold on parchment; leather binding · Medieval Art
During Lent, the season of forty days of penitence and fasting that precedes Easter, medieval Christians consciously identified with the plight of the ancient Hebrews who wandered in the desert for forty years. Chants and images inspired by Hebrew scripture, such as this example showing Joseph being sold by his jealous brothers, often appear in choir books intended for this time of year.
- Artist
- Giovanni Pietro da Cemmo
- Date
- ca. 1490
- Medium
- Tempera, ink and gold on parchment; leather binding
- Culture
- Italian
- Department
- Medieval Art
- Credit line
- Gift of Coudert Brothers, 1888
